Mental health & well-being: Are we on the right path?
Picturesque sunset. Source: Aria Millar.
Mental health is an important aspect of our lives. We have our highs and lows depending on experiences that affect our well-being, and keeping it balanced and blooming makes all the difference. However, it is not as simple as saying “we need positive mental health and well-being incentives” and leaving it at that.
Setbacks in the system, both in the past and present, result in communities of people being negatively affected and struggling to access the resources they need. This can be due to financial, cultural, or personal reasons, and vary depending on age, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity.
So let’s have a wee peek into the history of mental health and well-being in Aotearoa New Zealand, and see how it reflects our current state, and future visions for our whenua.
How was mental health and well-being in the past?
“Mental health stigma was significant in New Zealand. People experiencing mental health issues often faced discrimination and social exclusion,” said Dr Chris Taua.
Taua, a registered nurse who has clocked 40 years working in the mental health sector, remembers a time in the mid-1980s where many were institutionalised, and there was a chronic stigma in Aotearoa New Zealand about seeking help for mental health issues.
Jodie Davies, a Mental Health Support Worker for Pathways, mentioned something similar.
“For nearly 130 years, up until approximately the 1990s, care for people struggling with mental illness was largely institutional and based upon extremely limited understandings of what mental illness actually is.”
The barriers faced were especially prevalent for those in minority communities, such as Māori and Pasifika This is often due to cultural differences or a historical mistrust of mental health services. It was similar for the Rainbow community, due to varying societal attitudes and a lack of complex support.
This reflects a period of time when being open about your mental and emotional state didn’t earn you the most sympathy from the community. Since it was pushed to the side, those who were dealing with health related issues lived in silence.
Where are we now?
“Mental illness is being understood more as a complex, holistic health issue and more people are seeking help/diagnoses,” said Davies.
The stigma that was so common surrounding the topic has diminished, due to creative advancements in technology, allowing people to reach each other easier. This is especially useful for underserved populations.
However, there are still ways that we as a society can improve.
One of these is making a conscious effort to destigmatise conversations around mental health for men. In 2020, suspected suicides in Aotearoa New Zealand was more than doubled for men compared to women, according to Statista Research Department.
Organisations like Hope Upstream Charitable Trust are working towards zero-suicide communities through the development of initiatives. They have created a monthly meet-up for men to come together, have some kai, and talk about life.
Universities are also providing places for their students to improve emotional regulation and seek guidance. The University of Canterbury in particular has Student Care, the UC Health Centre, and the Students’ Association (UCSA).
We may be at a crossroads about what the next step might be, but that shouldn’t stop healthcare professionals and individuals, from brewing ideas.
Where are we going next on our mental health journey?
It all depends on the resources available, and an effort to push for better.
“[I] really worry about the future for my mokopuna,” said Taua, who is proud of how far we’ve come but believes there is so much more work to do.
By looking into our past, we can open up an abundance of understanding of why we are where we are. A main issue is the amount of people who cannot access support because of services operating at maximum capacity. This shows that while it is great that communities are reaching out, limited health care makes it difficult.
After compiling responses from a few health experts, and online sources, these should be the main focus points to better mental health well-being:
Health promotion > interventions
Investing in workforce development
Uphold our own holistic well-being to benefit others
Look into emergency stressors and recovery barriers
Most importantly, take care of what you need
The 5 Winning Ways to Well-being. Source: Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
Thanks to the insight of Taua and Davies, it is clear that as a country, mental health and well-being need to be at the forefront. We owe it to ourselves and to each other not to take this lightly, as it can be alarming to see the words “poor”, “crisis”, and “declines” splattered across article titles regarding mental health and well-being in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There has been a continuous fight for more equality and equity regarding the topic, and it’s far from over. Effective techniques and support need to be put in place, which includes ideal funding, qualified staff, proper diagnosis plans, strategies for diverse and minority groups, and a community of people who lift each other up.
Remember to always look after yourselves.